Grow in God's Love Each Morning!

Word Of God:

“Therefore, since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.” 2 Corinthians 7:1

Daily Devotion:

Healing or no Healing!

"My grace is sufficient for you;for My power is made perfect in your weakness" (2 Cor 12:9a)

God is a Healer. He revealed Himself as Jehovah-Rapha, meaning "The Lord who heals" (Ex 15:26). He has never changed. His power is still the same. What is impossible for man or medicine is possible with God!

God's power to heal was manifested to the highest degree through Jesus during His earthly ministry. Jesus healed all kinds of diseases, and all who touched Him were made whole. "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever" (Heb 13:8). On the Cross He carried away our sins and our sicknesses (Isa 53:4,5; Mt 8:16,17). We are cleansed by His blood and healed by His wounds.

The Holy Spirit has bestowed on the Church the gifts of healing (1 Cor 12:9,28). They are in operation. But our bodies are mortal. We are still subject to death (1 Cor 15:26). The total redemption of our bodies is still in the future (Rom 8:23). Until the day comes when there will be no more pain and sorrow, we may be subject to physical ailments common to man (Rev 21:4).

When a Christian believer becomes sick, he must resort to prayer. He must seek the help of the elders in the Church to offer the prayer of faith for him. And he must search himself to find if he had sinned. Whatever medical help is available may be accepted. Under normal circumstances he will be healed (Js 5:14-16).

But there are times when God does not choose to heal. The Bible tells of several saints who walked uprightly before Him but were still sick. Paul had to carry on with the thorn in his "flesh." God promised him sufficient grace (2 Cor 12:7-10). Timothy had his weak stomach (1 Tim 5:23). Epaphroditus was sick unto death (Phil 2:25-27). Prophet Elisha, who worked so many miracles, died of a disease (2 Ki 13:14). History abounds with examples of godly folks who were not healed. Fanny Crosby (1823-1915), an American poetess, became blind when she was six weeks old and remained so till death, but she gave us over 8000 hymns, one of which is Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine!

All good gifts come from God. He is not the author of sickness. But He uses it as a rod of chastisement or for some mysterious purpose we cannot explain. He is Sovereign. Ultimately all things, seemingly good or bad, work together for the good of His children (Rom 8:28).

Healing or no healing, God is God! His grace is sufficient in our grief!

Prayer:

May the God of peace,make you holy through and through,and keep you sound in spirit, soul and body,free of any fault when our Lord Jesus Christ comes.He who calls you keeps faith; he will do it.Amen.

Grow in God's Love Each Morning!

Word Of God:

“What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?” Mark 8:36

Daily Devotion:

Salvation Army

"Endure hardship like a good soldier of Christ Jesus" (2 Tim 2:3)

Soulwinning means fighting for souls. The devil has been keeping millions of people for millennia under his clutches. He has no right to do so after Christ has shed His blood for every man and every woman (1 Jn 2:2). It's the responsibility of every Christian to release the captives from the domain of darkness. That's why God has empowered us with the Holy Spirit (Acts 10:38). We must pray sincerely and wait before God, with fasting if possible, and enter the enemy's territory with full armoury (Mt 17:21).

Before marching to war, we must plan well (Prov 20:18). We should keep in mind the rules and regulations of the Kingdom of God (2 Tim 2:5). We must do all that's possible and save souls somehow, but the Biblical principles must not be violated.

Courage is indispensable for soldiers. Following a victory of God's people in the Land of Promise, Deborah a songleader sang, "Zebulun is a people who jeopardized their lives to the point of death; Naphtali also, on the heights of the battlefield" (Judg 5:18). Yes, God has not given us a spirit of fear but of power! (2 Tim 1:7). This is what made Paul stand boldly before the kings of nations and testify for the King of kings (Acts 26:19,27). He encouraged his trainee Timothy to maintain a royal spirit while sharing the Gospel message (2 Tim 4:1,2). The Word of God in our mouth is the Sword of the Spirit in our hand! (Eph 6:17).

A true soldier will be ready to suffer to any extent for the sake of his country. In our daring efforts to save people from the bondage of the archenemy of God, we may be wounded. No one can be a successful soulwinner without a mind to suffer (2 Tim 4:5). Missionary Paul knew what awaited him in the Christ-opposing religious capital of his day. But he proceeded there with this declaration: "I am ready not only to be jailed at Jerusalem but also to die for the sake of the Lord Jesus" (Acts 21:13). Lawrence Sanders of the 16th century opposed relentlessly anything unscriptural. He was burnt alive by Queen Mary. This is what he said while entering the flames: "Welcome the Cross of Christ and Eternal Life!"

Stand up! Stand up for Jesus! Ye soldiers of the Cross;

Lift high His royal banner; it must not suffer loss;

From victory unto victory His army shall He lead,

Till every foe is vanquished, and Christ is Lord indeed!

-(George Duffield, 1818-1888)

Prayer:

Grant Us Your Salvation Show us your mercy, O Lord;And grant us your salvation.

Clothe your ministers with righteousness; Let your people sing with joy. Give peace, O Lord, in all the world; For only in you can we live in safety. Lord, guide us in the way of justice and truth. Let your way be known upon earth; Your saving health among all nations. Let not the needy, O Lord, be forgotten; Nor the hope of the poor be taken away. Create in us clean hearts, O God; And sustain us by your Holy Spirit.Amen.